(1020-1027) editing in progress

Struggles with Neocolonialism ( MF)

  • L.A states gained independence in 19th cent.
  • but they struggled to achieve political and economic stability in midst of interference from foreign powers
  • great war/depression was crucial to solidify and expose neocolonialism
  • neocolonialism:(more subtle form of imperial control) foreign economic domination, could also include military intervention and political interference
  • in Central/ South America and Caribbean, power shifter from old colonial ruler (Spain/Portugal) to Great Britain and U.S
  • Didn't totally stop nationalist leaders from making strategies to combat newfound imperialism

The Impact of the Great War and Great Depression

  • Great war/ mexi / and Russian revolution spread radical ideas and new political possibilities
  • disparate ideals found many receptive audiences during the great depression
  • Marxism, Vladimir Lenin's theories on capitalism and imperials and concern for the Indians and peasants informed the outlooks of intelectuals
  • these works weren't fully adopted but showed alternatives open to nations
University Protest and Communist Parties
  • people attacked capitalism embraced by the U.S
  • One of the first was the university, hailing the mexi/Russian revolutions, demanding reforms in 1920
  • wanted more representatives in education system
  • resulted in long term politicization of student in universities and grew leaders influenced by Marxism to anti-imperialism
  • started anti communism political parties, and parties wanting radical change
  • Peruvians, Marxist Jose Carlos Mariategui, started many new radical political parties
  • felt strong concern for poor and Indians, 50% of pop., criticized leaders in papers and exiled to Europe
  • came back and in 1928 started Socialist Party of Peru, died while starting Peruvian Communist party

The Evolution of Economic Imperialism (DmG)

  • Export oriented economies had ties to global finance and subject to foreign controls (Britain & US)
  • WWI sealed US supremacy, US investments in Latin America soared in 1920's
  • Between 1924 and 1929, banks and businesses doubled financial interests
  • Most profit from copper farms in Chile, oil in Venezuala
Dollar Diplomacy
  • 1912; economic neocolonialism became evident, President Taft "dollars for bullets."
  • Wanted to develop foreign markets through peaceful commerce, replace European states
  • US visioned it as "dollar diplomacy"; Latin Americans viewed it as "Yankee Imperialism"
Economic Depression and Experimentation
  • Great Depression put more spotlight on Latin America into the world economy
  • US investments in Latin America not maintained; economic downturn
  • Many products of Latin America fell sharply after 1929; unemployment rates increased rapidly
  • Decline of exports increased tariffs and restrictions on trade; encouraged domestic manufacturing
  • Foreign financial development led Latin Americans take other paths to economic development
  • Brazilian dictator, Getulio Dornelles Vargas, revamped Brazil into new state without support of landowning elite
  • Key products were iron and steel; shielded domestic production from foreign competition
  • Industrial Development: protection of workers, healthy and safety regulations, minimum wage, max. working hours, unemployment compensation, retirement benefits
  • Great Depression led to evolution of economic neocolonialism and economic experimentation in Latin America

Conflicts with a "Good Neighbor" TVT

  • The Great Depression and the instability of global politics led to the reassessment of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.
  • Relied fully on the "dollar diplomacy"
  • "sweetheart treaties" guaranteed U.S. financial control in Caribbean economies and the U.S. Marines trained indigenous police forces to keep the peace and maintain law and order.
  • Became known as the "good neighbor policy" which is associated with the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
  • Civil war in Nicaragua caused the creation of the National Guard in Nicaragua
  • The U.S. Marines left Nicaragua and put Anastacio Somoza as commander of the National Guard and Juan Batista Sacasa was president in 1932.
  • Augusto Sandino's rebel forces still had some skirmishes after the National Guard left, but Sandino was looking for ending the rebellion after their leave.
  • National Guard officers murdered Sandino in 1934 and Somoza soon fulfilled his ambitions and became President.
  • Somoza collected the largest fortune in Nicaragua's history and established a political dynasty.
  • Sandino gained heroic status as a martyr who died because he fought the good neighbor to the north.
Time Line LU
1912 Taft establishes "dollar diplomacy" as US foreign policy
1914-1918 2.5 million African troops and carriers serve in the great war
1919 May fourth movement in china
1921 Rivera returns to mexico to paint
1928 Socialist party of Peru was founded
1929 Beginning of the great depression
1930 civil disobedience movement in india
1931 Japenese invasion of Manchuria
1933 Roosevelt begins practice of the good neighbor policy
1934 Long March by Chinese communists
1934 Sandino is murdered in Nicaragua
1935 Government of India act
1938 Cardenas nationalizes oil industry in Mexico